A United Nations report released in early 2026 has concluded that human rights conditions in the United States are at their worst point since the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960s. The report, prepared by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, cites a combination of voting restrictions, police violence, and rising inequality as key factors.
The report specifically highlights the impact of state-level voting laws passed since 2020, which it says disproportionately affect minority voters. It also points to a lack of federal action on police reform following high-profile incidents of police brutality. The UN document notes that the US has not ratified several core international human rights treaties, including the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women and the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
While the Biden administration has taken some steps on racial equity, the report argues that these have been insufficient to reverse broader trends. The report calls for a national commission on human rights and a comprehensive federal response to address systemic issues. The US State Department has not yet issued a formal response to the report.
